Melissa+Richardson's+Interpersonal+Activity

=__Puzzling Detective__ = Melissa Richardson, onlythroughyou74@yahoo.com

Purpose
This ice-breaker activity will help encourage students to get to know their classmates.

Time Required
The interpersonal component of the activity will require about 20 to 30 minutes of time. Creating the answer puzzle pieces by the students and the building of the puzzle by the detectives will require 5 to 15 minutes.

Number of Participants
The minimum amount of students that can participate should be 10. The maximum amount of students that can participate should be around 18. The optimal amount of students for this activity is 12-15 students.

Supplies Needed
timer or bell business envelopes sticky name tags blank puzzle pieces pencil and a fine tip marker Clue Log clipboard The facilitator may find that a timer or a bell may be helpful, to encourage precise questioning by the students or “detectives” The timer or bell could signal switching to the next student. The facilitator will also need to provide business envelopes, sticky name tags, blank, cardboard puzzles, and. Each student will need a marker and sticky name tag. These tools will be used to write their given number on the name tag. The students will also need a Clue Log, pencil, and a clipboard.

Preparation
The facilitator should prepare an example of a centered, numbered name tag to show students. The facilitator should lay out an unbroken puzzle board on each desk or sitting area of each student, along with a cup of thin-tip markers for cluster of students. The teacher will need to copy the amount of Clue logs needed for the students. Pencils and clipboards can be passed out when the questioning portion of the activity begins.

Introduction
The facilitator can choose to play a sleuth type melody before they begin, to help set the mood of the activity. Facilitator: The facilitator opens a sealed envelope and read the following: “ From the Get to Know You Detective Agency. Students you have been asked to help solve a case. The case of the puzzling classmates. Use your detective skills to find the student that fits the clues you are given. Write down what you discovered in the Clue Log. If you locate the correct person the puzzle pieces will provide the name of the student. Now detectives let’s start investigating."

Process
1. The facilitator will write the following questions, that each student will answer, on the board. The facilitator should also provide examples on how the answers (clues) can be written on the puzzle pieces. 2. The students will write their answers (clues) at the top of the Clue Log and on the puzzle pieces. The students should make sure to be discrete in writing down their answers, so that their answers are secret. 3. Once the answers have been written, each student should break up the puzzle pieces and place them in the envelope. 4. The envelope and Clue Log are given to the facilitator. The teacher will write a number on their envelope and give them a sticky name tag with that number. 5. When all of the envelopes and logs are turned in, each student is given a sticky name tag, a number, and someone else’s Clue Log with their responses. The students begin interviewing each other, writing down the clues from the interview. Students can move on to the next person if they feel that the student doesn’t seem to fit the answers (clues) at the top of their log, then the student can interview a new student. 6. Once the student believes they have the correct person, they should write down the number of the person on their log. The student gives this number to the facilitator and the facilitator gives the student the numbered envelope. 7. The student begins assembling the puzzle. The puzzle should contain the clues of the suspected person. Once the puzzle is finished the student prepares to share what they know about the student to the class.
 * Where you are from?
 * One word adjective that describes you.
 * What do you like to do in your free time (favorite hobby)?
 * What do you want to be when you grow up?
 * Name one of your talents.

Debrief
-What other things did you learn from the person that was not written on the puzzle pieces? -What things did you have in common with the person? -What adjectives would you use to describe the person? -What did you learn about other students during your investigation? -What other person closely matched your choice? Why?.

Credits
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson019.shtml

The activity was inspired by an activity titled “Let’s Play Detective”.